Time-service-controlled mechanism.



W. H. THOMPSON.

TIME SERVICE CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.|1.19|s.

1,1 60,1 1 5. Patentd Nov. 9, 1915.

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WILLIAIYE HENDERSON THOM?SON, 0F MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNGR. TO UNITED DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF TENNESSEE.

TIME-SERVICE-CONTBOLLED MECHANISM.

Application filed August 11, 1913.

T0 aZZ whom may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HENDER- SON Trroarrson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Time-Service-Oontrolled Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n time controlled service mechanism, one type of which is disclosed in the applications of Jackson and Davis, filed Nov. 14, 1912, Serial No. 731,325, and filed Nov. 1d, 1912, Serial No. 731,32et, and is designed for use principally where the prime mover is a clockwork and where the mechamsm is com controlled.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this character with a circuit make and break device combined with a clock stop in such a manner as to provide a unitary mechanism and means which will stop the cl0ck-work substantially simultaneously with the cutoff of current.

A further object is to provide an improved form of brush construction, whereby drag resistance against free operation of the clock-work will be reduced to a minimum.

Other features and objects of the invention will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing, and will be more particularly pointed out and ascertained in and by the appended claims.

In the drawing :-F igure 1 is a plan view showing one form of the device of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

As illustrated, 1 designates a clockside and 2, a clock-work driven minute arbor. A reducing train is provided for operating a service element or arm 3, which is designed for movement corresponding to the movement of an hour l and, with respect to the movement of the minute hand. The reducing train consists of a pinion 4:, mounted upon the minute ormotor driven arbor, and meshing with a gear wheel 5, to which is rigidly connected apinion 6. The pinion Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. *9, 1915.

Serial no. 784,156.

6 meshes with a gear wheel 7, which is loose on the minute arbor and which is preferably mounted upon a sleeve 8, rotatable on the minute arbor and extending longitudinally thereof. A fiber or other insulating sleeve 9, having a hub 10, serves as a mounting for the hub 11 of the service arm 3.

The hub 11 is rigidly secured to said arm 3. The hub 11 is provided with an annular recess 12, the purpose of which will presently appear. From the foregoing, it will be seen that rotary motion will be slowly transmitted to the service element 3 in a clockwise direction from the pinion d.

A setting gear wheel 13 is mounted upon a fiber or like insulating sleeve 1%, having a hub 15 and the sleeve let is loosely mounted upon the sleeve 8. A credit element, preferably in the form of a disk 16, is also secured to the sleeve 14: and is provided with a hub 17, which is insulated from the setting wheel 13 by a fiber or insulating disk 18. Another disk 19 serves to insulate all except the hub portion 17 of the credit disk from a current collector or brush 20.

On the outer end of the arbor 2, I dispose a fiber washer 35, which may be held by a pin 36 to maintain the parts in the posi tion shown.

It will thus be seen that the gear wheel 7 and service arm 3 are rotatively connected to revolve as an independent unit, and likewise, the setting wheel 13 and credit disk 16 are also connected to rotate as an independent unit.

The setting wheel 13 is a gear wheel which meshes with a pinion 21 on a winding arbor 22 so that as winding movement is imparted to wind up the main spring of the clock-work, the credit wheel or disk 16 will be advanced with respect to the service element 3. As the clock-work operates, the service arm 3 will follow the credit disk, the latter being held stationary where the clockwork is provided with a going barrel, and a normally fixed winding arbor.

The credit wheel 16 is provided with a current interrupting portion, which may be in the form of a segment of insulating mate rial, designated at 23. The service arm 3 is provided with a spring brush 2A having wiping contact with the periphery of the credit wheel 16.

When the main spring is wound to provide for dispensing a predetermined amount of service, it will be wound by giving the arbor 22 a partial rotation, in the present form. This will advance the interrupter 23 with respect to the brush 24: to close circuit through the credit wheel 16 and a brush 2) and through the brush 24 and arm 8 nd hub thereof to brush 25. The brushes 20 and 25 are connected with a source of cur rent, as will hereinafter more fully appear. As the clock-work is operated the brush 24 will be gradually advanced on the circuit disk 16 toward the interrupter 23, and circuit will be closed and service disposed until the brush 24 reaches the interrupter 23 whereupon it will be opened.

It is one of the novel features of this invention to provide a clock stop so as to stop the clock-work when circuit has been opened, and thereby prevent the clock work fromrunning down.

As shown, means is provided in the form of a stop 26, which is mounted upon the credit wheel l6 in such a position as to limit following movement of the 3 when the service aid for has been dispensed and current has been out OK. Engagement of the arm 3' with the sto 26 will'serve to arrest the clockwork slightly after circuit has been 1 opened by the brush 24 engaging? interrupter 23. It will thus be seen that I am. able to employ a clock-work of the stock type, in connection with a device of this character, by reason of the fact that I provide a clock stop which is wholly independent of the clock-work. it will also be seen that I provide, in a unitary structure, a combined make and break device and clock stop.

When the device of my invention is used in connection with mechanism disclosed in the before mentioned applications,tl 1e clock spring" is wound up at the completion of dispensing of service, to the exact extent to which the clock spring has been unwound, while such service has been dispensed, so, therefore, it is highly advantageous to stop the clock at the completion of service rendered for the amount paid, as otherwise, the clock would run downcompletely after the service had been rendered and the next purchaser of service would either have to wind up thec'lock, or in cases where only a predeterminedinitial wind of the clock can be affected, such purchaser would not obtain all of the service paid for;

The brushes 20' and 25 consist of fiat strips of conductive material having elongated openings for embracing the hub 17 and. the hub 11, respectively, so as to minimize friction and present as little drag resistance as possible against movement of the clock-work. I connect the brush 20 with a coiled spring 27, of conducting material, and the latter is nected by wire 33 with the other pole of the source of the current. Binding post 32 is connected with brush 25', by a wire 34-, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

By the provision ofthe foregoing-mechanism', I obtain a light but positive contact so as to reduce drag resistance to a minimum and it will also be seen that these brushes will be perfectly self-cleaning by reason of the engagement of but one portion of the opening in each brush with the hub encircled thereby, as any dirt or grit will not be smeared uponthe hubs as would bethe case with a broad fiat brtish contact. 7

While I have hereinshown and described one specific form of'my invention, I do not wish to be limited. thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim V V 1. In a service controlled mechanism, an arbor, a motor driven arbor, a make and breakdevice having one of its members op erated by one arbor and the other ofits members by the other arbor, and means operated by one of the said membersfor arrest ing' the motor upon opening of the circuit said make and break device, substantially as described.

In a time service controlled mechanism, a clock-work driven minute and a normally stationary winding arbor, a credit element on said minute arbor geared t be advanced upon movement of said winding arbor and connected with one pole of a source of current, a service element rotatable 7 on and geared for slow movement on said minute arbor to be advanced along the creditelement and said service element being connected with the other ole of a source of cor"- rcnt', a current interrupter for said credit element, and means carried by said credit element fol arresting theserv'i-ce element to sto the clock-work when current is inter= rupted, substantially as described.

In a time service controlled mechanism, a clock-work driven minute and a winding arbor, acredi't wheel connected with one pole or a source of current and'loosely mounted on said minute" arbor and operatively connectedto be advanced by said winding arbor, said credit wheel being provided with acurrent interrupter, a' service element connected with another pole of a source of current and electrically engaging said credit wheel, a reducing gear operated from said minute arbor for advancing said service element to ward and to said interrupter to open the circuit, and a stop on said credit wheel for arresting said service element upon opening of the circuit to stop the clock-Work, substantially as described.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature 1n the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM HENDERSON THOMPSON.

Vitnesses:

JOHN W. FARLEY, FRANK F. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

